Written Answers Wednesday 3 September 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been diagnosed with alcohol-related brain damage in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The number of patients discharged with a diagnosis of alcohol-related brain damage from 2002-03 to 2006-07 by NHS board is set out in the following tables. Table 1 provides information for acute hospitals and table 2 psychiatric hospitals

  Table 1. Number of Patients Discharged from Acute Hospitals in Scotland with a Diagnosis of Alcohol-Related Brain Damage: 2002-03 to 2006-07P

  

 
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07P


 Scotland
 489
 463
 515
 536
 540


 Ayrshire and Arran
 15
 39
 23
 22
 28


 Borders
 8
 7
 6
 5
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 7
 z
 9
 8
 13


 Fife
 18
 16
 28
 25
 36


 Forth Valley
 31
 21
 20
 22
 11


 Grampian
 33
 45
 41
 39
 37


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 217
 179
 215
 207
 202


 Highland
 26
 27
 31
 32
 31


 Lanarkshire
 28
 35
 46
 61
 46


 Lothian
 64
 54
 60
 74
 79


 Orkney
 z
 z
 z
 z
 z


 Shetland
 z
 z
 z
 z
 5


 Tayside
 38
 27
 31
 34
 42


 Western Isles
 z
 z
 z
 z
 z



  Table 2. Number of Patients Discharged from Psychiatric Hospitals in Scotland with a Diagnosis of Alcohol-Related Brain Damage: 2001-02 to 2005-06P

  

 
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06P


 Scotland
 192
 212
 188
 170
 180


 Ayrshire and Arran
 16
 19
 16
 13
 20


 Borders
 z
 z
 z
 z
 z


 Dumfries and Galloway
 z
 z
 8
 z
 6


 Fife
 10
 14
 x
 7
 7


 Forth Valley
 5
 7
 9
 5
 13


 Grampian
 17
 17
 16
 14
 8


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 65
 70
 38
 41
 68


 Highland
 13
 12
 15
 12
 12


 Lanarkshire
 19
 17
 26
 26
 14


 Lothian
 27
 37
 40
 35
 21


 Orkney
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Shetland
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Tayside
 16
 15
 10
 10
 9


 Western Isles
 -
 -
 -
 z
 z



  PProvisional.

  - (Zero).

  z Number not shown where number of patients in a single year is < 5.

  x Number not shown to prevent calculation of masked data.

Ambulance Service

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, who took the decision to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether the decision to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions was approved by ministers.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, on what date the decision to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service was taken.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, who was consulted prior to the decision being taken to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, what its policy is regarding consultation prior to any decision to merge operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service or other NHS body.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) ministers and (b) officials last met representatives of the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss proposals or plans to merge the North East and North and West operational divisions.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether any proposal to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions was considered at the same time as any proposals for the merger of (a) East Central and South East or (b) West Central and South West operating divisions.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether there are any plans or proposals to merge the East Central and South East operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether there are any plans or proposals to merge the West Central and South West operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) ministers and (b) officials last met representatives of the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss proposals or plans to merge the East Central and South East operational divisions.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) ministers and (b) officials last met representatives of the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss proposals or plans to merge the West Central and South West operational divisions.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Partnership Information Network guidelines were consulted prior to any decision to merge the North East and North and West operational divisions and whether they were followed in the development of the proposal.

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14973 by Shona Robison on 29 July 2008, whether a merger of operational divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service constitutes a plan or proposal to reconfigure the delivery of health services.

Shona Robison: The decision to merge the North East and North and West operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service was taken by its Chief Executive on 30 January 2008. This was an operational decision and it was not put to ministers for approval. There was no prior public consultation, nor was there a requirement to do so. Partnership Information Network guidelines are being followed as the general manager of the merged north division takes forward a programme of consultation and engagement around any administrative redesign.

  It is for NHS boards to manage the process by which they make operational decisions, including any decisions to merge operating divisions. The Scottish Ambulance Service has not discussed proposals or plans to merge any of its operating divisions with ministers or officials. The Scottish Ambulance Service has confirmed that it has no plans to merge any other operating divisions.

  The Scottish Government does not consider that a merger of operating divisions of the Scottish Ambulance Service constitutes a plan or proposal to reconfigure the delivery of health services.

Ambulance Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve the performance of the ambulance service in Arrochar to better meet national targets for (a) category A, (b) category B and (c) urgent calls.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) continues to provide safe, efficient and effective services to patients across Scotland, including those in remote and rural areas. It is also important that patients have confidence in the ambulance service’s ability to respond to emergencies.

  While this presents particular challenges in remote and rural locations, the service seeks to improve performance for all patients and remains keen to seek local solutions that meet the needs of those communities. In addition, the Scottish Ambulance Service has appointed a first responder co-ordinator in this area to develop and support first responder schemes.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions are given to Scottish Ambulance Service crews and paramedics when attending to a patient who has had an epileptic seizure.

Shona Robison: The Joint Royal College’s Ambulance Liaison Committee guidelines cover the management of epileptic seizures and the care of patients during grand mal seizures.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances a Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic would be able to administer prescribed rescue medication for seizures.

Shona Robison: The Joint Royal College’s Ambulance Liaison Committee guidelines cover the management of epileptic seizures and the care of patients during grand mal seizures. Only Health Professions Council registered paramedics are legally entitled to administer rectal diazepam in the management of status epilepticus.

  Special arrangements are also in place within the Scottish Ambulance Service for cases where medazalan has been prescribed by a specialist for individual patients, though once again support in management of these patients will be confined to registered paramedics.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the basic epilepsy training standards are for Scottish Ambulance Service crews.

Shona Robison: All Scottish Ambulance Service crews receive training in the management of epilepsy. This includes training on:

  The main causes of epilepsy;

  The three common types of epilepsy;

  An understanding of the four stages of a seizure;

  The management of a grand mal epileptic seizure;

  The management of status epilepticus;

  Identifying the clinical signs of infantile convulsions, and

  The management of infantile convulsions.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the basic epilepsy training standards are for Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics.

Shona Robison: In addition to the basic training standards for all crews, paramedics receive training in the administration of specific medicines.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics receive to manage difficult epilepsy cases.

Shona Robison: The management of difficult cases is covered as part of the general training programme.

Ambulance Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ambulance Service crews attending an epilepsy case know in advance whether that person has been prescribed any rescue medication, what that medication is and who is authorised to give it.

Shona Robison: This is not a routine part of the immediate triage of the patient by the call handler. However, the medication history and the use of rescue medicine is often volunteered by the third party if they are a relative or carer of the patient.

Ambulance Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from the catchment area for the Vale of Leven Hospital contacted (a) the 999 service for an ambulance and (b) NHS24 in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) the first quarter of 2008-09.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24 have provided the following tables of information. It is not possible to give an absolute definition of the catchment area for the Vale of Leven Hospital as it relates to these organisations so the tables set out the postcode sectors that have been used to capture the information.

  (a) Emergency Incidents Attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service

  

 Postcode Sector
 Area
 2007-08
Quarter 12008-09


 G60-5
 Bowling
 307
 77


 G82-1
 Dumbarton
 498
 126


 G82-2
 Dumbarton
 455
 104


 G82-3
 Dumbarton
 478
 114


 G82-4
 Dumbarton
 573
 136


 G82-5
 Cardross
 499
 98


 G83-0
 Alexandria
 1,210
 276


 G83-7
 Arrochar
 131
 42


 G83-8
 Luss
 611
 181


 G83-9
 Arrochar
 509
 133


 G84-0
 Roseneath
 276
 72


 G84-7
 Helensburgh
 512
 120


 G84-8
 Helensburgh
 602
 166


 G84-9
 Helensburgh
 171
 46


 PA248
 Lochgoilhead
 42
 13


 PA258
 St Catherine’s
 4
 1


 PA268
 Cairndow
 17
 2


 PA328
 Inverary
 135
 30


 Total
 
 7,030
 1,737



  (b) Calls to NHS 24

  

 Postcode Sector
 Area
 2007-08
Quarter 12008-09


 G60-5
 Bowling
 1,401
 311


 G82-1
 Dumbarton
 1,021
 191


 G82-2
 Dumbarton
 1,573
 314


 G82-3
 Dumbarton
 1,391
 309


 G82-4
 Dumbarton
 1,569
 408


 G82-5
 Cardross
 1,358
 341


 G83-0
 Alexandria
 2,111
 530


 G83-7
 Arrochar
 193
 47


 G83-8
 Luss
 1,727
 443


 G83-9
 Arrochar
 2,387
 574


 G84-0
 Roseneath
 819
 185


 G84-7
 Helensburgh
 1,314
 319


 G84-8
 Helensburgh
 1,250
 312


 G84-9
 Helensburgh
 1,083
 259


 PA248
 Lochgoilhead
 103
 39


 PA258
 St Catherine’s
 4
 3


 PA268
 Cairndow
 15
 0


 PA328
 Inverary
 63
 27


 Total
 
 19,382
 4,612



  Notes:

  *Cowal Peninsula has not been included as it is assumed to be within the catchment for Inverclyde Royal.

  **Areas north of Tarbert (on the Loch Lomond side) are not included as these are assumed to go to Glasgow or Stirling.

  ***Ambulance Service systems report incidents attended rather than numbers of calls. This is, for example, because there can be duplicate calls for one incident.

Blood Transfusion Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the recent consultation on the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service strategy for the next five years and beyond will be published.

Shona Robison: The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service plan to publish the results of the consultation on their strategy for the next five years by the end of September 2008.

Census

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to replace the census with an alternative method of gathering information and, if so, what alternatives it has considered.

John Swinney: There are no such plans.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether they will expand the central heating programme to include children (a) with physical disabilities and (b) living in poverty.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum is currently considering the long-term future of the programme and is expected to report back in early autumn. Once the forum has provided its recommendations the necessary decisions on the programme’s future will be taken.

Central Heating

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place for the conclusion of the Scottish Gas contract for the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: Tendering for the central heating programme was undertaken in 2006. The contract was for two years, with the option of a further two extensions of up to 12 months each. The first extension is currently being used from April 2008 to March 2009.

  The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum is currently considering the long-term future of the programme and is expected to report back in early autumn. Once the forum has provided its recommendations the necessary decisions on the programme’s future will be taken.

Central Heating

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households that would have become eligible in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 for the central heating programme will no longer be eligible under the new arrangements.

Stewart Maxwell: All householders who were eligible for the central heating programme before the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s announcement of 22 May 2008 remain eligible under the regulations.

  The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum is currently considering the long term future of the programme and is expected to report back in early autumn. Once the forum has provided its recommendations the necessary decisions on the programme’s future will be taken.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations representing the Muslim community that have received Scottish Government grants since May 2007, also showing the value of grants received.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has provided funding to the following organisations representing the Muslim community since May 2007:

  

 Organisation
 Project Funded
 Financial Period
 Amount


 Amina
 Helpline development project
 2007-08
£96,382


 Prevention, Protection and Provision Project
 2007-08
£31,845


 Counselling and support service to Muslim families
 2008-11
£126,000


 Helpline development project
 2008-11
£318,935


 Prevention, Protection and Provision Project
 2008-11
£270,293


 Total:
£843,455


 Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland)
 Democratic Participation Project
 2007-08
£29,100


 2008-09
£12,125


 Total:
£41,225


YCSA(Youth Counselling Services Agency)
 Glasgow Counselling Project
 2007-08
£36,175


 Ayrshire project with Chinese school children
 2007-08
£17,660


 Young Muslim’s Conference
 2007-08
£20,000


 Youth/Faith Exploration Services
 2008-11
£190,000


 Total:
£263,835


 Islamic Society of Britain
 Eid on the Drive 2007
 2007-08
£15,000


 Total:
£15,000


 Scottish Islamic Foundation
 IslamFest
 2007-08
£200,000


 Set up costs
 2007-08
£10,152


 Training costs
 2007-08
£5,600


 Empowering Youth: Future Leaders
 2008-11
£190,000


 Total:
£405,752



  In addition, we have funded organisations which support multi-cultural community engagement and inter-faith dialogue. These initiatives have a positive impact for all communities in Scotland, including the Muslim community.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations representing the Muslim community have requested a meeting with the First Minister since May 2007.

Fergus Ewing: The First Minister receives numerous requests and invitations and endeavours to meet with as many organisations representing Scottish communities as possible. In relation to Scotland’s Muslim community these have included approaches from organisations as varied as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association; Association of Poetry & Music; BSA; Consulate of Pakistan; Glasgow Central Mosque; IADD; Islam Channel; IslamExpo; Islamic Finance Council; Islamic Human Rights Association; Pakistan Welfare Trust; Pakistan Society; Scotland’s for Peace; Scottish Islamic Foundation; Scottish Provosts’ Association, and Shi’a Muslim Schools. A list of organisations representing the Muslim community which he has met is contained in the response to answer to question S3W-15007 on 3 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations representing the Muslim community have met the First Minister in an official capacity since May 2007.

Fergus Ewing: The following organisations representing the Muslim community have met the First Minister in an official capacity since May 2007:

  

 Date
 Organisation/Attendees/Organiser
 Nature of Meeting


 03-06-07
 Pakistan Welfare Trust
 Guest of honour at 20th Annual Dinner


 31-07-07
Muslim community representatives including:Glasgow Central MosqueEdinburgh Central MosqueDundee Central MosqueAl-Furqan Mosque, GlasgowMuslim Council of ScotlandMuslim Council of BritainMuslim Association of BritainIslamic Society of BritainUK Islamic MissionAMINARadio Ramadan EdinburghYCSA
Reception at Bute House


 14-08-07
 AWAZ
 2007 Azaadi Award Show (Pakistan Independence Day Celebration)


 18-10-07
 Muslim community representatives: the Scottish Government does not hold the guest list for this event.
 End of Ramadan Lunch, Scottish Parliament


 31-10-07
 Consulate of Pakistan
 Meeting with Shah Jamal


 01-11-07
 Scotland’s for Peace
 Signing Scotland’s for Peace ‘Covenant for Peace’ Book


 11-12-07
 Glasgow Central Mosque
 Dinner


 17-01-08
 Islamic Finance Council
 To discuss what the Scottish Government could do to help Scottish Muslims acquire the Shari’a compliant financial services they require and a proposal to develop and co-ordinate Islamic investment.


 30-01-08
 Scottish Islamic Foundation 
 To discuss IslamFest


 21-02-08
 Bashir Maan
 Launch of Bashir Maan’s book The Thistle and the Crescent (as MSP)


 08-05-08
 Pakistan Welfare Trust
 Photo call


 01-06-08
 Pakistan Welfare Trust
 21st Annual Dinner


 26-06-08
 Scottish Islamic Foundation 
 Launch

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what due diligence has been undertaken in deciding which organisations representing the Muslim community should receive Scottish Government funding.

Fergus Ewing: All funding applications are scrutinised and are considered for their match with government priorities and assessed for their value for money. All applications from organisations, including those representing the Muslim community, are subject to these procedures.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all meetings between cabinet ministers and the Scottish Islamic Foundation since May 2007, including the location and those (a) present and (b) observing.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Islamic Foundation was constituted in January 2008 and formally launched in June 2008. Since January 2008 Cabinet Secretaries and ministers have met the Scottish Islamic Foundation on the following occasions:

  

 Date
 Location
 In Attendance


 17-01-08
 Scottish Parliament
 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture


 Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation.


 Humza Yousaf, Scottish Islamic Foundation


 Mohammed Sawalha, IslamExpo


 Ismail Patel, IslamExpo


 Anas Altikriti, IslamExpo


 Officials from the Scottish Government.


 30-01-08
 Scottish Parliament
 First Minister


 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture


 Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation.


 Humza Yousaf, Scottish Islamic Foundation.


 Officials from the Scottish Government.


26-6-08
 Dynamic Earth
This was the launch event for the Scottish Islamic Foundation. The Scottish Government does not hold an extensive guest list for this event but speeches were made by:The First MinisterAnnabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.Nichol Stephen, Liberal Democratic Party.Pauline MacNeill, Scottish Labour Party.His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien.Rami Ousta, BEMISOsama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation 


 22-07-08
 Al Furqan Masjid Mosque & Islamic Centre
 Cabinet Secretary for Justice


 Allan Burnett, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland


 Alan Miller Scottish Human Rights Commission


 Amar Shakoor Strathclyde Police Muslim Association


 Bashir Maan, President, Glasgow Central Mosque.


 Humza Yousaf Scottish Islamic Foundation


 Officials from the Scottish Government.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive from which of its funds the £215,000 allocated to the Scottish Islamic Foundation came.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £215,000 funding allocation to the Scottish Islamic Foundation was made through Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Islamic Foundation was one of 53 different organisations which received a total of £3.4 million during the 2007-08 financial year from resources administered by the Scottish Government’s Equality Unit for projects and initiatives relating to race, religion and refugee integration. All three of the individual funding payments to the Scottish Islamic Foundation for £10,152; £5,600 and £200,000 came from this source which gave grants to individual organisations ranging from £3,250 to £605,000.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the application for funding by the Scottish Islamic Foundation was submitted.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15063 on 3 September 2008. Applications for the funding referred were received in March 2008.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates decided to allocate £215,000 to the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Fergus Ewing: This funding has been allocated through the Health and Wellbeing Directorate.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which minister agreed the £215,000 funding allocation to the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Fergus Ewing: Funding for IslamFest was first given ministerial approval in March 2007 under the previous administration. A proposal from the Scottish Islamic Foundation for funding of £200,000 was approved in principle by the First Minister and subsequently agreed by officials after receipt of the detailed proposal in March 2008. Funding for the two smaller grants of £10,152 and £5,600 were processed and actioned by officials.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures have been put in place to monitor the spending of the £215,000 funding allocation to the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Fergus Ewing: Grant conditions, including financial monitoring, are attached to all funding provided by the Scottish Government.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers first received recommendations from civil servants regarding the allocation of grants from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream 2008-11; when the first letters were sent to bodies advising of those allocations; when ministers decided the letters should be recalled; when the letters were recalled, and when the organisations can now expect to be informed of their allocations.

Stewart Maxwell: Ministers received recommendations for funding under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration (RRRI) Fund on 19 June 2008. In anticipation of a decision on the fund, officials started drafting letters in preparation. 22 of these draft letters were sent out prematurely in error on 9, 10 and 11 July 2008. Officials immediately contacted the affected organisations to explain the administrative mistake and indicate that a decision on the fund would be communicated to them as soon as decisions were finalised.

  All applicants to the RRRI Fund were sent letters informing them of the outcome of their application on 28 July 2008.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream 2008-11, broken down by organisation, and which organisations were unsuccessful in their applications for funding under the stream.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15060 on 6 August 2008, which provides an allocation total and a breakdown of all organisations which were successful under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund.

  The Scottish Government does not routinely make public lists of organisations which were unsuccessful under a funding stream, since it may affect an organisation’s standing and ability to secure funding from other sources in the future.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Communities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has considered for an Islam fest; what assurances have been given that such an event will not be used for racist or extreme political propaganda, and what financial assistance has been sought or granted for such an event.

Stewart Maxwell: Ministers in the previous government, considered proposals for an Islam fest and, in March 2007, agreed in principle that such an event be developed and financially supported. The Scottish Government has taken this forward by providing £200,000 to the Scottish Islamic Foundation to develop IslamFest for Scotland. This event will be open to, and welcoming of, all of Scotland’s diverse communities and aims to inform about the different strands of Islamic culture and promote constructive dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, as well as develop trade and investment opportunities for Scotland. The Scottish Government applies grant conditions which ensure that government funding cannot be used for political propaganda and that grantees comply with legislation which includes the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended 2000) to eliminate racial discrimination; promote equality of opportunity and promote good relations between people of different racial groups.

Communities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) East Dunbartonshire are benefiting from the Cash Back for Communities scheme.

John Swinney: The young people of East and West Dunbartonshire are benefiting from CashBack for Communities funding: in East Dunbartonshire, Merkland School has participated in Easter and Summer Street Football events whilst Leisuredrome and Kirkintilloch L.C. participated in Bank of Scotland Midnight Leagues. Eight schools in the area are participating in the Soccer One Leagues programme.

  In West Dunbartonshire, Dumbarton Academy, Levenvale Primary School and Braidfield Campus have been involved in the Street Football summer programme, and Brucehill Activity Centre hosted a Bank of Scotland Midnight League. Four schools in the area are participating in the Soccer One Leagues programme.

  In addition to football, six secondary and 28 primary schools in East and West Dunbartonshire will receive rugby coaching over the next academic year via CashBack. Discussions are underway for Street Rugby to be integrated into the diversionary activity programmes currently on offer in East Dunbartonshire with the initial target area being Hillhead and for the possible introduction of a rugby development officer in West Dunbartonshire.

  YouthLink are administering a £3 million local grant scheme funded by the Scottish Government. Successful applicants in East Dunbartonshire consisted of Enable Scotland, with activities across the region, and Twechar Community Action. In West Dunbartonshire, Bonhill, Bellsmyre, Drumry and Faifley benefit from funding awarded to the Community Links Scotland Streetlinks re-CYCLE project, and the Tullochan Trust works with young people in the Whitecrook and Drumry area of Clydebank. The full list of successful applicants can be found on the YouthLink Scotland website: http://www.youthlink-scotland.org.

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many voluntary organisations received funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund.

Stewart Maxwell: Thirty-three organisations received funding through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream. They are all listed at: http://www.scotlandagainstracism.com/onescotland/366.html .

Communities

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many private companies received funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name the private companies that received funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund.

Stewart Maxwell: Voluntary organisations working in Scotland were invited to apply for funding through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream. It is widely accepted as good practice for voluntary organisations to register themselves as companies limited by guarantee at Companies House, however this does not change the voluntary status of such organisations. All organisations being supported through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream are non-profit making. The organisations which received funding are all listed at: http://www.scotlandagainstracism.com/onescotland/366.html .

Communities

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15169 by Stewart Maxwell on 19 August 2008, on what basis funding was provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Stewart Maxwell: All applications for funding received by the Scottish Government are scrutinised and considered for their match with government priorities and assessed for their value for money. All applications submitted by organisations to the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream were subject to such procedures. As is standard practice, grant conditions, including financial monitoring, were attached to all of the projects being funded through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream.

Concessionary Travel

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how effective the Thistle Travel Card scheme has been and whether there are plans to increase awareness of it.

Stewart Stevenson: An evaluation of the Thistle Travel Card Scheme in 2006 showed that, in large part, the scheme failed due to poor publicity and marketing. In September 2007 the government offered grant funding of £4,550 to ENABLE to allow them to re-launch the scheme. This offer was declined.

Economy

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reports have been produced by the Council of Economic Advisers and to whom they are available.

John Swinney: The first annual report of the Council of Economic Advisers will be published by the end of the year.

Education

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what educational programmes and materials it has made available to schools and youth organisations on the dangers of illegal knife carrying.

Maureen Watt: The national Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), funded by the Scottish Government, has promoted programmes and materials on the dangers of knife carrying to schools as part of their anti-violence campaign, e.g. the Knife City DVD and It’s Jist for Protection performance by young people. However, it is up to individual schools, youth organisations and local authorities to decide on which resources to use from the wide range of educational programmes and materials available on the dangers of illegal knife carrying, as they are best placed to judge the needs of the children and young people in their communities.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the number of dependent children in the household is not included in assessing eligibility for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Fiona Hyslop: The income assessment being used for the national programme of EMAs in Scotland is based on that used by HM Revenue and Customs in their Tax Credit Awards. The household income assessment takes account of the income of those adults who have a caring responsibility for the children in their family household. This approach is consistent with the rest of the UK and is considered to be a fair measure of the financial resources each household has to meet its needs.

Emergency Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much detail is sought by call handlers for the emergency services and ambulance control regarding a person’s history of epilepsy and other current health conditions.

Shona Robison: The call takers ask if the patient has ever had an epileptic fit before, if the patient has any heart problems and whether or not they are diabetic.

Emergency Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether call handlers for the emergency services and ambulance control ask if a person with epilepsy has a personal care plan in respect of their epilepsy.

Shona Robison: This is not asked routinely.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following a number of community initiatives to demonstrate support, it believes that a clear community demand is apparent for a new ferry service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig, serving South Uist and Barra.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the community consultation underway in South Uist and Barra concerning ferry services and as set out recently by Councillor Manford of Western Isles Council.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current consultation in South Uist and Barra concerning ferry services is to determine demand for a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry route or to seek an appropriate timetable for the new service.

Stewart Stevenson: It is clear that there is support for a new ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig serving South Uist from the communities of South Uist, what is not clear is the level of support for such a service also serving Barra from the Barra communities. That is why Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are taking forward a consultative process to ascertain the views of all the communities in Barra and South Uist. The Scottish Government supports this initiative.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers expect to make a decision on the proposed new ferry route from Lochboisdale to Mallaig.

Stewart Stevenson: Stòras Uibhist submitted a proposal for a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service on 21 July 2008.

  Following consideration of the proposal The Scottish Government wrote to Stòras Uibhist on 27 August 2008 seeking clarification on a number of the financial and technical elements of the proposal and making it clear that another operator and/or dedicated vessel could only be secured through an open and transparent procurement process. We await a response.

Ferry Services

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any domestic legal impediment or European Union regulation that would prevent a publicly subsidised ferry service being run by an operator other than CalMac Ferries Ltd between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Stewart Stevenson: There are no domestic legal impediments or European Union regulation that would prevent a publicly subsidised ferry service being run by an operator other than CalMac Ferries Ltd between Lochboisdale and Mallaig provided the subsidised ferry service was tendered in an open and transparent procurement process.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the accountability arrangements are for (a) Health Protection Scotland and (b) NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

Shona Robison: Health Protection Scotland is part of National Services Scotland, and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is a special health board. National Services Scotland and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland are accountable to Scottish ministers who hold annual reviews in public.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cancellations there have been of travel arrangements made by the Patient Transport Service in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Cancellations of Patient Transport Service (PTS) journeys can be made for a variety of reasons and are made by GPs, hospitals, patients or the Scottish Ambulance Service. The service continues to try and reduce cancellations and they work closely with NHS boards to do this.

  The information has been provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service and is set out in the table below. Information is not held for 2003-04.

  

 NHS Board
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Borders
 10,853
 8,451
 8,379
 7,470


 Fife
 11,938
 12,803
 13,879
 13,228


 Forth Valley
 11,674
 11,589
 14,905
 16,251


 Lothian
 25,505
 37,329
 48,512
 46,017


 Tayside
 13,237
 13,006
 14,477
 13,720


 Grampian
 12,503
 16,462
 14,781
 14,750


 Highland
 12,997
 13,200
 13,352
 12,823


 Argyll and Clyde*
 101,711
 124,516
 90,946
 30,956


 Ayrshire and Arran
 16,358
 16,520
 19,623
 21,338


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5,089
 7,244
 7,273
 8,157


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 32,227
 31,752
 37,868
 46,345


 Lanarkshire
 35,170
 32,548
 29,288
 29,361


 Orkney
 2
 4
 541
 876


 Shetland
 4
 13
 428
 575


 Western Isles
 880
 1,165
 1,280
 1,195


 Total Cancellations**
 290,148
 326,602
 315,532
 263,062


 Total PTS Journeys***
 1,734,058
 1,730,300
 1,688,194
 1,691,971



  Notes:

  *The Scottish Ambulance Service IT systems record data under the previous structure of 15 geographic health boards.

  **A cancellation is defined as the cancellation of a pre-booked appointment on the previous day. It is counted as a cancellation while the ambulance service has control over the process, and prior to completion of the planning process for the next day. Any journey which is cancelled on the same day as it was due to take place is counted as an aborted journey. Where the SAS has not been notified of a cancellation and proceeds to pick up the patient, which is counted as an abort and the return journey is also counted as an abort rather than a cancellation.

  ***Cancellations are not included in total PTS journeys but aborts are included as these remain on the vehicle run schedule for the day.

Health

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the operation of the Patient Transport Service.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has no plans to review the operation of the Patient Transport Service (PTS). However, the PTS will be discussed as part of the public annual review of the Scottish Ambulance Service on 24 September. In addition, the Scottish Ambulance Service is currently in the process of revising its Patient Transport Service Strategy. As part of that process, the results of an extensive survey of service users and strategic stakeholder views on aspects of the service is currently being analysed for consideration by the SAS board.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14337 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, whether the identification of deaths from Clostridium difficile was entirely based on information from death certificates.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14339 by Nicola Sturgeon on 15 July 2008, on what dates from December 2007 terminal cleans occurred at the Vale of Leven Hospital; in which wards, and for what reason.

Nicola Sturgeon: The 18 full ward terminal cleans were carried out as follows:

  

 Date
 Ward
 Reason


 21 December 2007
 Ward 6
 Norovirus Outbreak


 28 December 2007
 Ward F
 Norovirus Outbreak


 7 January 2008
 Ward 15
 Norovirus Outbreak


 10 January 2008
 Ward 14
 Norovirus Outbreak


 16 January 2008
 Ward 14
 Norovirus Outbreak


 24 January 2008
 Ward 15
 Norovirus Outbreak


 11 February 2008
 Ward 15
 Norovirus Outbreak


 25 February 2008
 Ward F
 Norovirus Outbreak


 25 April 2008
 Ward F
 No subsequent confirmed diagnosis


 14 May 2008
 Ward 6
 Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH


 15 May 2008
 Ward 3
 Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH


 26 May 2008
 Ward 15
 Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH


 28 May 2008
 Ward 14
 Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH


 16 June 2008
 Ward 5
 Preventative measure as part of management linked 027 C.diff cases at VOL and RAH


 17 June 2008
 Ward 3
 Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak


 20 June 2008
 Ward F
 Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak


 24 June 2008
 Ward 14
 Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak


 25 June 2008
 Ward 15
 Preventative measure as part of response to retrospective outbreak



  In addition, within the period, there were 283 terminal cleans of single, four and six bedded areas within the hospital. These cleans would be requested for individual suspected or actual infection issues in line with best practice.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Healthcare Associated Infection Task Force has fulfilled its remit to monitor levels of hospital-acquired infection and the efficacy of measures taken in general and specifically in relation to Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: The principal measurements of the levels of healthcare associated infection (HAI) in Scotland have been the long-standing national mandatory and voluntary HAI surveillance schemes, most recently mandated by HDL(2006)38 and the National HAI Point Prevalence Survey carried out by Health Protection Scotland. The mandatory elements of surveillance currently include MRSA bacteraemias, Clostridium difficile and selected surgical site infections. I am pleased to note that MRSA bacteraemias in Scotland have shown a significant decrease since April 2006, and that orthopaedic surgery (hip and knee replacement) and caesarean section infection rates have also declined – see http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/publications/ssi/ssi-2007.pdf .

  On 11 July 2007, I announced the publication of the Scottish Point Prevalence Survey which, for the first time, provides us with a comprehensive picture of the rate of HAI in every acute Scottish hospital and in a representative sample of community hospitals. The publication of the survey led to the preparation of a three year HAI Task Force Delivery Plan, which came into affect on 1 April 2008. The Delivery Plan is being backed with £54 million of Scottish Government funding over the next three years and a second Point Prevalence Survey is scheduled for 2011. The delivery plan is available from http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/0.

  Mandatory reporting on compliance with hand hygiene and cleaning performance are regularly monitored and reviewed by the HAI Task Force so they remain fit for purpose. I am pleased to note that both these schemes have shown substantial improvements in hand hygiene and cleaning since their implementation, and these are both key areas in the prevention of Clostridium difficile as well as other HAIs.

  Another key document relevant to Clostridium difficile is the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (ScotMARAP), which I launched in March. ScotMARAP outlines the national programme for Scotland in tackling antimicrobial resistance and prudent prescribing over the next five years. The expert Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) has been established to take this forward, and is now starting a programme of work which all the evidence suggests will have a significant effect in prevention of Clostridium difficile infections.

  The HAI Task Force has also commissioned extensive staff training resources from NHS Education for Scotland, notably the Cleanliness Champions programme. This programme continues to expand, and has been used in postgraduate and undergraduate training for health professionals here and in other UK countries. In addition, The recently revised NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) HAI Standards is a key document against which all NHS boards are assessed, both in terms of their organisational structures and practical compliance with HAI policies.

  In relation to Clostridium difficile specifically, I refer the member to the announcement I made on 7 August about the publication of both our new National HAI Action Plan and the HAI Action Plan specific to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Both Action Plans are available from the HAI Task Force website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/19529/2005/actionplans.

  These additional plans will be fully integrated into our existing national HAI Task Force programme.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will actively seek to learn lessons from the 32% drop in the number of cases of Clostridium difficile in England.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are always willing to learn from other countries, and the Scottish Government has done so for many years. Our key stakeholders on the HAI Task Force are in regular contact with their counterparts around the world – including the Department of Health – so both they and we can learn from each other on the most effective approaches that are being taken towards tackling Clostridium difficile and other Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). It is also the case that both the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorate and the Scottish Infection Research Network (SIRN) at Glasgow University encourage and support innovative research and projects into HAI to ensure that our approach continues to evolve.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why guidance on Clostridium difficile is now to be issued in September 2008 and what the reasons are for the delay in issuing the guidance.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14683 on 21 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a robust independent inspection regime for all hospitals.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that scrutiny of hospitals should be conducted by a process similar to those of the Care Commission and HM Inspectorate of Education for care facilities and schools respectively.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are accountable for the quality and safety of the NHS services they provide including those provided in hospitals. A range of scrutiny and performance management arrangements are in place including annual reviews by Scottish ministers held in public.

  The future of scrutiny arrangements in the public sector, including the NHS, is being considered as part of the Scottish Government’s response to the Report of the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland (The Crerar Review).

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Quality Improvement Scotland undertakes unannounced visits of hospitals to check standards.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) does not undertake unannounced visits of hospitals to check standards. NHS QIS reviews the performance of NHS boards against its standards in accordance with its planned work programme. Further information regarding the work of NHS QIS is available from their website www.nhshealthquality.org .

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital funding is allocated directly by (a) NHS Scotland and (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for the development of the Southern General Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12770 on 15 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many breaches of police bail have been recorded in the last four years, broken down by (a) type of breach and (b) police force.

Kenny MacAskill: Ms Mitchell’s question has been interpreted as referring to breaches of undertakings given to the police to appear in court on a specified day.

  The available data is given in the following table. This gives the numbers of crimes recorded by the police of breaches of undertakings, from 2003-04 to 2006-07.

  

 Police Force
 Year


 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Central
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Fife
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lothian and Borders
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Strathclyde
 1
 1
 2
 2


 Tayside
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 2
 1
 2
 2

Local Authorities

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that all local authorities take account of sections 15, 16 and 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

John Swinney: Sections 15 to 17 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 would place a duty on local authorities to ensure that the political balance on council committees reflects the political balance on the council itself. These sections have not been fully brought into force in Scotland, primarily because successive administrations have wished the issue to be addressed on a voluntary basis rather than by the imposition of a statutory duty on councils.

Modern Apprenticeships

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and groups were consulted prior to changes being made to national training programmes and modern apprenticeships.

Maureen Watt: Skills for Scotland, our skills strategy published in September 2007, clearly signalled that we fully supported the all age nature of the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme, but we recognised the need for us to prioritise our resources, therefore we committed to look at the structures and funding mechanisms needed to support the MA programme.

  The evaluation of the MA programme carried out by Cambridge Policy Consultants in November 2006 gathered the views of trainees, employers and other key stakeholders and this, alongside the views expressed during the last administration’s consultation, Improving Modern Apprenticeships, which was carried out in 2006, informed our thinking when considering refocusing our national training programmes.

NHS Complaints

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received about the Patient Transport Service in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46483).

NHS Staff

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school nurses there were in the NHS Tayside area in each of the last three years for which figures are available, expressed in (a) full-time equivalent and (b) head count terms.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table provides the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) and head count school nurses in Tayside in 2003, 2004, 2005. These figures are collected by Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

  Data for 2006 is unavailable due to the non-direct match between Whitley Council grades and new Agenda for Change grades. Data for 2007 has not been included as accuracy cannot yet be guaranteed. This reflects the fact that the assimilation of NHS staff to Agenda for Change bandings by NHS boards is on-going. There may also be anomalies with the coding which may affect correct numbers of staff being identified.

  NHS boards are currently working through a process of cleaning up the data to ensure future high quality data standards. Once full assimilation to Agenda for Change has been achieved, the publication of workforce statistics will be updated to reflect this.

  

 
 Number of WTE Qualified School Nurses
 Number of Head Count Qualified School Nurses


 2003
 22.0
 40


 2004
 20.8
 37


 2005
 21.6
 37

National Health Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14801 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 July 2008, what specific statutory requirements are placed on NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: The specific statutory requirements which relate to NHS boards are available via the Office of Public Sector Information website, www.opsi.gov.uk .

National Health Service

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pest infestations there were in each NHS board area in the last year for which figures are available, also broken down by (a) general hospital and (b) type of pest.

Shona Robison: This is a matter for NHS boards. The requested information is not held centrally.

  However, I am advised that NHS boards in Scotland have in place pest control contracts which demonstrates an effective management strategy towards this common problem.

Older People

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to encourage home delivery and grocery services for elderly people in communities across Scotland, similar to the Food Train initiative currently being delivered in Dumfries and Galloway.

Shona Robison: Support for community-led health projects, including provision of home delivery and grocery services for older people along the lines of the food train is a matter for NHS boards and local authorities to decide based on the needs they have identified.

  Additional business support for local third sector community food initiatives is available through Community Food and Health (Scotland), which is funded by the Scottish Government.

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any complaints about anti-police statements made at the Weaving the Tartan conference on 5 August 2007.

Stewart Maxwell: No complaints have been received by the Scottish Government about any alleged statements made at the Weaving the Tartan conference on 5 August, 2007.

Respite Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the extra 2,000 respite weeks being provided in 2008-09 will be devoted to the needs of disabled children.

Shona Robison: It will be at the discretion of individual local authorities how they develop and allocate these additional weeks, based on local needs and priorities.

  COSLA will monitor progress twice a year and will ensure delivery of the total Scotland-wide figures.

Respite Care

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 18,000 extra weeks of respite care to be provided over the next three years will be (a) residential and (b) non-residential.

Shona Robison: It will be up to individual local authorities to develop and allocate these additional respite weeks, based on local needs and priorities. These additional weeks may be provided at home or in other care settings.

  To support local planning of this vital service, we will shortly be publishing short breaks guidance to support local planning of personalised, preventative short breaks which meet the needs of both the carer and cared for person.

Road Accidents

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pedestrians have been struck by a vehicle while crossing either a zebra or a pelican crossing in the last two years.

Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported pedestrian casualties involved in injury accidents who were struck by a vehicle while crossing a zebra or pelican crossing.

  

 
 Zebra Crossings
 Pelican Crossings*
 Total


 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 Killed
 Serious
 Slight
 


 2006
 0
 2
 19
 1
 36
 83
 141


 2007
 0
 8
 21
 3
 30
 92
 154



  Source: Scottish Government (STATS 19 return).

  Note: *Includes puffin, toucan or similar non-junction pedestrian light crossing.

Road Safety

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a "20’s plenty" scheme for motor vehicle drivers in all cities and major towns in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: This would be a matter for traffic authorities to consider.

  Local authorities have considerable powers and flexibility with regard to the introduction of 20mph speed limits. They have power to introduce mandatory 20mph zones, where engineering measures are a standard feature to ensure that the zones are self-enforcing, and mandatory 20mph speed limits, with or without traffic calming measures, and mandatory part-time 20mph limits. They can also introduce advisory 20mph speed limits at suitable locations, with the aim of making roads safer. Many 20mph speed limit schemes already exist across Scotland.

  The Scottish Government believes that these lower speed limits can contribute to road safety by making drivers aware of the appropriate speed for the area.

Road Safety

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to visit the city of Houston, Texas, to see the "20’s plenty" scheme in operation.

Stewart Stevenson: In 2001, the Scottish Executive evaluated the effectiveness of 75 low cost 20 mph pilot projects implemented by local authorities throughout Scotland. A copy of the research is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46462). As evaluated "20’s plenty" schemes already exist in Scotland, there are no plans to visit sites elsewhere.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which civil servants accompanied the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing to the Weaving the Tartan conference at Eastwood Park Theatre on 6 August 2007.

Stewart Maxwell: No civil servant accompanied the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, to the Weaving the Tartan conference.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which civil servants attended the Weaving the Tartan conference at Eastwood Park Theatre on either 5 or 6 August 2007 and what reports they have provided to ministers on the proceedings.

Stewart Maxwell: No civil servants attended the Weaving the Tartan conference on either 5 or 6 August 2007.

Sexual Offences

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged 8 to 12 years have been referred to children’s hearings for committing a sexual offence in the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Children Charged with Committing a Sexual Offence* where the Reporter’s Decision was to Convene a Children’s Hearing

  

 Year
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Children 8 to 12 years
 4
 8
 12
 6**
 8



  Notes:

  *SCRA’s Referrals Administration Database specifically records four sexual offences (lewd and libidinous practices, assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and rape)

  **One child was referred twice in the year, once at age 12 and once at age 13.

Sexual Offences

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged 13 to 15 years have been referred to children’s hearings for committing a sexual offence in the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Children Charged with Committing a Sexual Offence* where the Reporter’s Decision was to Convene a Children’s Hearing

  

 Year
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Children 13-15 years
 22
 19
 19
 17**
 12



  Notes:

  *SCRA’s Referrals Administration Database specifically records four sexual offences (lewd and libidinous practices, assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and rape)

  **One child was referred twice in the year, once at age 12 and once at age 13.

Special Advisers

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any special advisers have recently been appointed and, if so, what their roles will be.

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what salary band each of its special advisers is in.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13362 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, what the particular responsibilities are of its most recently appointed special adviser and how these relate to those of Kevin Pringle and Stephen Noon.

John Swinney: Currently, there are nine special advisers of whom one is a part-time unpaid appointment. The most recent special adviser, Stuart Nicolson, was appointed on 18 August 2008 to advise on communications issues. Duncan Hamilton, political adviser to the First Minister, took up his part-time post last year on the basis that he would serve for approximately one year, and therefore demitted his position with effect from 31 August 2008. His responsibilities are now being undertaken by Jennifer Dempsie.

  Information about individual special advisers salaries is considered to be personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998. The following table provides details of the current pay bands for special advisers and the number in each pay band.

  Special Adviser Pay Bands

  

 Pay Band
 Pay Range
 Number of Special Advisers*


 1
£38,100 – £49,300
 5


 2
£49,301 – £63,100
 0


 3
£62,800 - £81,100
 3


 3 (premium)
£80,700 - £97,500
 0


 4
£84,000 - £100,900
 0



  Note: *1 unpaid Special Adviser

  The total annualised cost (including ERNIC, and employer pension contributions) for special advisers for financial year 2006-07 was £854,376. The estimated annual cost of the current team is £564,000.

  The special advisers’ specific roles and responsibilities are shown in the following table.

  

 Name
 Specific Responsibilities


Professor Sir Neil McCormick(part-time unpaid)
 Adviser to the First Minister on Europe and external relations


 Kevin Pringle
 Strategic co-ordination across all portfolios, political spokesperson and senior adviser on communications issues 


 Stephen Noon
 Senior adviser on policy matters across all portfolios


 Noel Dolan
 Senior policy adviser to the Deputy First Minister 


 John McFarlane
 Policy adviser, supporting Mr Noon


 Jennifer Dempsie
 Political Adviser to the First Minister


 Geoff Aberdein
 Advice on diary issues and support for Parliamentary Liaison Officers


 Will McLeish
 Adviser on communications issues


 Stuart Nicolson
 Adviser on communications issues